Environmental Sensors: Safeguarding the Ecosystem by Monitoring Sanitary Pad Disposal

Introduction

Sanitary hygiene is a fundamental aspect of human health and well-being. However sanitary pads, essential for women's menstrual health, have become ubiquitous in India. However, the improper disposal of these pads poses a severe environmental problem. The vast majority of sanitary pads are made from non-biodegradable materials like plastics and synthetic fibres, which can take centuries to decompose. When these pads are discarded irresponsibly, they clog waterways, litter streets, and contribute to the growing issue of plastic pollution in the environment (Qu et al.,2023) sensor.

Within the Indian landscape, critical concerns revolve around the pollution of rivers and water bodies, congestion within sewer systems, and the pressing challenges posed by open dumping sites (Ahmad,2021; Elledge et al.,2018)). These are urgent matter of concerns to be addressed seriously to ensure further complications. Wherever proper sanitary pad disposals mechanisms are not in place, it is widely observed that women dispose the used sanitary pads in rivers and other water bodies and even dispose them along with other waste without segregating them. This not only have adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystems but also contaminates the nearby water sources which will be depended by many communities for drinking and agriculture purposes. The polluted water can lead to various health issues for the communities relying on these sources (Patel et al.2020) in the long run. They might also create serious health concerns for the people who does the waste management. Another issue is related to the dumping of used sanitary pads in toilets. Urban and suburban areas often experience clogging of drainage systems due to the flushing of sanitary napkins into the toilets. This leads to expensive and disruptive maintenance work, which ultimately burdens municipal authorities and taxpayers. Leaving dirty napkins in public places on rural areas is a significant health risk as it draws out wandering creatures and promotes the spread of diseases (Gadekar,2023). The problem is most pronounced in groups with lower levels of proper waste disposal facilities, which are often marginalized.

In India, the issue of disposing of sanitary pads is significant due to the country's large population and potential health and hygiene issues. This requires urgent action. Improper disposal of sanitary napkins threatens public health because it can cause the spread of diseases and infections. For women and girls, access to hygienic menstrual products and safe disposal methods is integral to their well-being (Melaku et al.2023). The non-biodegradable nature of most sanitary pads means that they remain in the environment for an extended period. This contributes significantly to plastic pollution and its associated environmental degradation. The social stigma surrounding menstruation further complicates this issue. Women and girls often feel ashamed or embarrassed to discuss proper disposal methods, which perpetuates the problem. The burden of dealing with clogged sewer systems and managing open dumping sites places a strain on already stretched municipal infrastructure and resources.